Some 5,000 Philippine soldiers
have been deployed to the southern province of Sulu to track down the Islamist
militant group Abu Sayyaf. Pictured, Philippine Marines with 28th Company 8th
Marine Battalion Landing Team push forward after splashing ashore in an
amphibious assault vehicle during an amphibious assault training exercise.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Bianco/U.S. Marines
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines,
June 17 (UPI) -- Some 5,000 Philippine soldiers have
been deployed to the southern province of Sulu to track down the Islamist
militant group Abu Sayyaf that beheaded two Canadian hostages and is
threatening two others.
At least 10 military battalions from the Philippine marines, army, air
force and navy are converging on Sulu from land, sea and air, Maj. Filemon Tan
Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said. Tan said the operation
is not considered "wide scale" but will focus on areas known to back,
the Islamic State-linked
Abu Sayyaf.
"We focus on areas known to be supportive
of the Abu Sayyaf group. We will go to the communities known to provide refuge
to bandits," he said. "There are selected target areas. These bandits
have relatives and they hide in the populace."
The deployment comes as the militant group is demanding
$13 million ransom for the release of Kjarten Sekkingstad, a citizen of Norway,
and Marites Flor of the Philippines. They have been held hostage since being
abducted from a resort in the Philippines in September. The extremist group
beheaded two others taken hostage at the same time -- Canadians Robert Hall and
John Ridsdel.
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Raami told The Star the
group will be hard to locate. He said, "we run for cover, we put off all
communications and we hide."
"We know the terrain," he said.
Thursday, incoming President
Rodrigo Duterte said he is stepping up efforts to stop the militant group,
including calling on his chief negotiator, Jesus Dureza, to open talks.
Incoming National Police Chief Robert Dela Rosa suggested martial law may be
imposed in some areas, allowing the government to impose strict curfews and
suspend civil rights. By Amy
R. Connolly
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